Minus 1F this morning in Big Minnie. Seems like a good morning for biscuits and gravy to me. Also, the hiccups seem to have subsided, knock wood.
Morning all. A balmy 29F this morning getting into the mid-40’s this afternoon with clear and N.O.S. skies. Paper rescued and pill taken, now waiting for the World Cup final at 9am. I thought briefly of going somewhere to watch it with a group, but given the early hour and my level of Sunday Sloth, I think I’ll stay put.
hippy, people who do that thing (stand up people) aren’t worthy of your good wishes; I know Sunflower wants to keep family contacts, but these folks…(SSR things many bad words…)
swampy, y’all drink what makes you happy; since I drink maybe 1-2 beers a month, I am in no position to be judgemental. Enjoy vergering.
FCM, silly reason they game, but roofers in the summer with no cover or hope of it do have a pretty hot job. Best of luck to you and FCD making it a day of rest.
Shoe,
So I trust the GC left the Gentleman part out for some period last evening (wink, wink, nudge nudge) 
boo fae, given the conditions, better safe than sorry. Stay home and day-drink, like swampy
Sari, for your sake I hope the drama’s over at the dog park; but sounds like more is coming with the family. Hang in there.
{{flyboy}}. Hope it repairs itself quickly.
OK, need to do the Sunday internettin’ before soccer starts, so all y’all have a great Sunday.
Good morning everyone.
It’s currently 37 degrees, dark and wet, with expected highs of around 39 or 40 degrees. We may see some snow showers overnight, but no significant accumulation. The chance for snow is much higher up Johnny’s way. It may be snowing there now since temps are a little lower there.
Hippy, I’m sorry your wife’s family did that. As many have already mentioned, I’d have pizza with you and your sweetie.
shoe, I’m glad you got to see GC and make up and out!
johnny, I hope you’re feeling better today.
I spent yesterday running around to many stores and never finding what I was genuinely shopping for. On the other hand, I did get the grandkids’ Christmas shopping completed. I still need to get additional gifts for my son and daughter, as well as Christmas gifts for my husband and son-in-law. I’m just going to give my mother a gift card so she can use it as she needs it. She doesn’t need more stuff but could always use a little help paying for things.
I looked for a specifically sized enamel-coated cast iron roasting/lasagna pan. Every store I went to had nothing left in that type of cookware except some dutch ovens. I have a nice enamel-coated cast iron lasagna/roasting pan. It’s nice and deep, and the interior dimensions are 10X15. I bought it probably ten years ago at Bed, Bath and Beyond (of all places), and that thing is still going strong and hasn’t chipped or anything. My son-in-law admires it every time I use it, and since he does so much cooking, I thought I would try to find one as a birthday gift for him. I can’t find that size online or at any of the local stores. It’s pretty frustrating. In the end, so I’d at least have a gift for him, I got him a nice bottle of double-oaked Woodford Reserve Whiskey. At that point, I’d been to six stores, not including the bird feed store, where I had stopped for another 25-pound bag of peanuts and more suet. I also had to get the ingredients for tonight’s dinner. I was tired of shopping and fighting the crowds and traffic. I left the house yesterday at 9:00 am, stopped back home again at noon to drop off packages (I don’t leave them in the Jeep during shopping season), and headed back out. I didn’t get back until almost four and was ready to chill for a bit.
I’m finishing up my coffee and getting ready to tidy up the house a bit. I also need to haul all the Christmas gifts up to my closet, so the grandkids don’t see them. Then I’ll shower, do some laundry, and relax a bit for the family descends upon the house.
I hope you all have a good day!
Oh, I know and I don’t mock the job, just the idiot who thought that distance meant diddly-squat.
Why am I smelling coffee in my house this morning? I don’t do coffee very often, if’n I remember correctly, it’s been about a year since I last made some. Though, I do have a reduced sense of smell from all the paints I’ve sprayed over my career, so my judgement may be off.
No written or driving test, as my U.S. driver’s license can be exchanged within the first year. If I hadn’t done the exchange within the first year, or if I was from a country whose license is not accepted (such as India), I would have had to do a written and driving test.
Chili con carne is rather popular, but it tends to be bland and contains Aromat, which I don’t have in my home.
We don’t have a raclette grill, and we’re not fond of it, so we don’t have it at home. We do have a fondue pot, and have fondue about 2-3 times a year, depending on the weather. I prefer to have rösti (sort of hash browns, but eaten for lunch or the evening) at a restaurant, because they can make it better than me.
The Swiss dish I make the most often is Müesli, because that’s what I usually have for breakfast. But I let someone else put the dry ingredients together, and I just add milk or yogurt.
I did make the beef chili, but not the cornbread. Hubby’s sick (flu or covid, probably flu) and I don’t feel like making cornbread just for me. Or maybe I’ll do it later today.
My grandfather never took a driver’s test or school. He was already driving when they started issuing licenses and they decided to just give him one, according to him.
Yay! Well done, finding a place, albeit temporary, for both of them.
Hope it doesn’t take that long - that’s no fun at all.
I knew there was something I was forgetting. I got the first batch (those for the relatives) done, but didn’t do the others. Guess I’m doing that this afternoon.
Yesterday I ran into the kitchen door. As it is glass, it made quite a lot of noise, but I didn’t actually get injured. Something for you to laugh about.
Sari and Hippy, I am so sorry. Relatives should behave better.
I realized that I hadn’t bought any fresh cranberries, and at this time of year, it’s unlikely I’ll find any in the stores, as they aren’t common here. So yesterday I placed an order to get 4 bags delivered. As the minimum order is 100 CHF, I bought some tequila and Goldschnee, which is basically Goldschlager, but I can actually buy it here in Switzerland.
Yes, I know Goldschläger’s supposedly manufactured in Switzerland. I’ve never seen it here. [Just looked it up, it’s not clear where it’s being manufactured now, but it seems to be owned by a company in New Orleans.]
Seems to be worth losing sleep over
There was some noise from the neighbors - maybe somebody scored a goal. Not watching, but I know there’s lots of people who are watching the final. Should go look at my list and get something else done before settling down for the evening.
Stay warm and safe!
Well, it’s been an interesting few hours, lemme tell ya!
I got the household trash (except for the basement can) and the recycling all loaded into my car - I didn’t want to deal with the truck. And my timing was just right - as I arrived, the attendant was just setting up a newly delivered dumpster, so by the time I was parked, I had lots of room to toss my garbage! OK, not that I’ve ever not had enough space, but still…
I had 3 bags of recyclables plus 2 empty boxes, all dispatched quickly, then I was on my way. As I headed down Budds Creek Road to Leonardtown, all of a sudden, there was a deer heading towards my car!! I hit the brake and pulled to the left (no oncoming vehicles, thank goodness!) and then the deer was gone - I’m guessing she decided to head back from whence she came.
It was a tad unnerving - my other 2 deer encounters, the ones that smooshed my vehicles, were in the wee dark hours, never mid-morning! Thankfully, there was no contact and no damage (at least not to my car) so happy ending there.
Then I got to WalMart. Eighteen large eggs were $5.92!!! That’s like 3 eggs for a buck! What the ever-lovin’ what!!! I had to get them - I’m hosting a Christmas Eve brunch, plus my sister is expecting deviled eggs on Christmas at my bro’s. I swear, it’s a plot by Big Chicken! Avian flu, indeed… 
As I was driving home, FCD called. I think I told you how FIL’s hearing aids had disappeared and all we could figure was that he’d flushed them - there’s some history there. So this morning, FCD ordered some OTC hearing aids that were well-rated on several sites and actually recommended to me in a thread I started in IMHO. So, of course, when he got to the apartment, he learned his mother found the hearing aids. They were shoved inside an angel statuette that sat on their desk. They still work, and FCD says there’s no longer a lot of yelling, tho the conversation still doesn’t make much sense.
He asked me to cancel the order and I called. But apparently the people on call are just technical advisors. I was asked to call back tomorrow. But I did send an email with the order number requesting they cancel the order - FCD can follow up tomorrow.
So now I’m home. I think I’ve earned some recliner time…
My brother is doing a bit better this morning, so that’s encouraging. SIL says she’s never seen him this sick. I shudder to think what shape he’d be in if he weren’t fully vaxxed.
It’s pouring rain. I was thinking of going for a walk, but I’ll wait and see if the rain eases.
That was my first inclination, but since I’m short, I didn’t want to order some that didn’t fit, as there wouldn’t be time to get a reorder before heading to son’s house. I guess tI’ll risk it.
FCM, yay for sleep! And aww for Tobias being a gramma’s boy. I’m betting it’s a permanent thing.
shoe, yay for less sleep! I bet there’s a spring in your step today.
Dicey, having now read aboutAromat, I take back .3% of the many good things I’ve said about the Swiss if they put that in chili. If Mexico finds out, there may be an international crisis. They must not use much, though, if the chili is bland. I haven’t had fondue in years, but now I want some.
swampy, Those sound like good beverages for day (or night) drinking. So since you don’t like mint juleps (which I confess I’ve never had), does that mean you eschew old fashioneds, Manhattans, and highballs and the like, or is it the mint you dislike ?
Oh, and happy Chanukah to those who observe. We’re doing latkes for dinner.
Happy Hanukkah, all. After 5 days of icky, icky-tasting Paxlovid, we both still test positive. My lovely wife has no symptoms; I have altered taste and smell but nothing else. She’s supposed to have a skin cancer removed tomorrow. We’ve had to cancel theater tickets already; now we’re negotiating about a solstice walk and Christmas. Bummer.
Afternoon all. Just finished watching the World Cup Final, tremendous game with more twists and turns than a county road in the mountains, decided by penalty kicks. Now thinking about exercising as the tackleball games seem to be lackluster after that.
Take care and both of you get well soon, suzie. And the same to your brother, nellie
Hope the cancellation takes, FCM; then again, the chances they’ll get lost/broken in the near future… And glad you missed the deer (the deer is glad too) without having any car issues.
Taters, sometimes I’m glad my only family is Brother, SIL and their three kids, makes Xmas shopping easy (I also get my nice neighbors something). Sounds like ti was quite a saga.
OK, need to head over to the gym (they close at 6pm Sunday) and work up a little sweat. Take care all.
Turns out FIL didn’t deliberately destroy their TVs - he just refuses to use his walker, and he fell into them. Twice. We have an extra 32" set - pretty small but they can mount it on the wall out of harm’s way, so we’ll give it to them. Better than nothing.
FCD is finally on his way home. He feels sorry for his mom - actually, I do, too, but until she accepts that she can’t care for her husband, it’s hard to work up a lot of sympathy. /end rant
Back to my cheezy novels. Bumba, if you peek in, I read one by your friend - it was marginal, even by cheezy romance novels, at least IMHO, bordering on rape-y almost at one point. But I’m going to read another of hers just in case this one was a bad anomoly.
Back to the recliner…
Happy Sunday!
Was 32 feels like 23 at the park this morning.
One of the couples who usually walk over had driven over this morning. It gave some of us a tiny freak out as their car is similar to Barky/Humpy car. I knew B/H mom was going out of town today, but when I saw what I thought was her car, I almost left.
I have a lot to do today. I get up and do something, then as soon as I sit down, I fall asleep.
I should have gone to bed, but I was afraid I’d sleep the day away and not get anything done.
I think I need a vacation, away from home.
It’s hard to relax at home when everywhere you look there is something that needs to be cleaned or fixed. Or you just stay in the same routine, when you need something new.
Sorry for Sunflower’s family**, Hippie**.
I guess I’d better get up and get some more stuff done. The clothes won’t wash themselves, and I am down to nothing clean to wear. Trash goes out tonight and I want to get rid of all the boxes that are collecting.
We need to straighten up the middle bedroom, that doubles as a pantry and closet. The door to the attic is in that room and I’m sure the roofer will need to go through there. It stays clean, but it is cluttered.
We were just heading out to drop the truck off at the shop. only to discover that the Check Engine light wasn’t coming on. So I guess the computer was being freaky last week when it lit up on me. Relief! I was fearing another $$$ repair.
Daughter has asked me to keep Tobias Mom-Tue-Wed so she can get some stuff done. So I’ve got that to look forward to.
I want to thank you all for your messages of condolence. When Vinnie died earlier this year he just went to sleep. Gibbs wasn’t so lucky. It was heart-wrenching to experience and has really knocked me down. I’ve read everything up to date but don’t have the wherewithal to respond.
I’ll be back with you later.
{{{{{{{{{ bumba }}}}}}}
Sitting by the office window with the cats watching a dozen or so finches snack at the sunflower kernels I scattered for them. Suddenly all of them but one scatter into the air. The remaining finch just stood there, looking around for his buddies. I turned to the cats and said “Well, we know who farted.”
Carry on.
That’s really inexcusable behavior on the part of sunflower’s family. They must be extremely self-involved people who lack basic courtesy and compassion. They failed her miserably, and I can only imagine how this must have hurt sunflower. She deserves better family than she was dealt. Luckily the one she chose–you–is worthy of her.
It’s snowing.
I drove the Jeep down to Bellingham. I went to TJ’s for some rosemary and bought a plant. At home, I’m not sure it’s actually rosemary. I may have to get a couple of packets from the supermarket. I also went to Costco and picked up the Christmas roast. Seven-point-something pounds, and $100.
The windshield wipers on both Toyotas are pulled up so that they don’t freeze to the windshields – like they were this morning.
cookie, better you than me on weather that cold.
{{{bumba}}} My heart goes out to you.
silenus, my inner 9 year old giggled.
Doggies walked, Sunday dinner made and et (sweet potato - black bean enchiladas and cilantro lime slaw) plus one of my individual casseroles taken to Miss Ann. Charlie almost slipped her leash when we walked today (she’s a little escape artist). I may try one of Nelson’s harnesses on her tomorrow.
Gonna play around in the studio for a bit, then prep for tomorrow.